The Sarah Thorne Conservation Capacity Award

The Sarah Thorne Conservation Capacity Award was created in 2005 as a way to recognize the many people who make successful land conservation happen in the state of New Hampshire. Recipients are intended to be people who, in the course of their own conservation efforts, have also enhanced the capacity of others to accomplish land conservation. As far as we know, it is the first such award to be available for individuals involved in a statewide variety of conservation groups and activities.

The award was created by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests to honor Sarah Thorne, who dedicated nearly 20 years of her career to land conservation in New Hampshire. Sarah worked for seven years at the Trust for New Hampshire Lands, and the balance at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. She is now extending her efforts toward conservation for the future by working as a high school science teacher. Sarah Thorne will be presenting the award at the Saving Special Places Conference each year. The name of the award recipient will be inscribed on a permanent exhibit at the Conservation Center in Concord.

Betsey Harris from the Monadnock Conservancy and the Dublin Conservation Commission

2010

Jeanie McIntyre, President, Upper Valley Land Trust

2011

Dea Brickner-Wood, Coordinator of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership

2012

Mark Zankel, former Deputy State Director of The Nature Conservancy

2013

Charlie Bridges, Wildlife Biologist, N.H. Fish and Game Department

Nominations for the 2009 Sarah Thorne Award have closed. The award will be presented to this year's recipient at the Saving Special Places 2009 conference. Check back later this year to see how to submit a nomination for the next cycle.